Badge Swapping
Communication Date: 1st July 2024
We’ve now just 26 days to go and we want to share with you about a wonderful tradition that participants may want to take part in during EIJ: badge swapping.
What is Badge Swapping?
Badge swapping is a time-honored activity where Scouts trade badges with others from different regions and countries. These badges represent their troop, council, or special events, providing a fun and interactive way for Scouts to connect with peers from all over the world.
Why Do Scouts Swap Badges?
- Cultural Exchange: Badge swapping encourages Scouts to learn about and appreciate the diverse cultures, traditions, and Scouting practices of their counterparts worldwide.
- Building Friendships: This activity is an excellent way for Scouts to meet new people and make friends. It often leads to meaningful conversations and shared stories, fostering a sense of global camaraderie.
- Collecting Memories: Badges serve as memorable keepsakes, each one symbolizing a unique encounter or experience during the jamboree. Scouts love collecting these badges as tangible reminders of their adventures and the friendships they’ve formed.
- Developing Skills: Engaging in badge swapping helps Scouts develop social skills, including negotiation, communication, and etiquette. It also encourages them to be open-minded and respectful of different perspectives.
Pre-Order Badges to Swap
To ensure your Scout has badges to swap at the jamboree, we recommend pre-ordering our Basingstoke East badges as our special discounted price. This allows them to have an ample supply of badges that can be exchanged with Scouts from around the world. These badges are unique to our District contingent. Participants can of course also bring any other badges they may have to swap.
These badges are usually 95p per badge but we have a special price for participants of the jamboree:
- 5 badges for £4.00 (80p per badge)
- 10 badges for £7.00 (70p per badge)
- 20 badges for £12.00 (60p per badge)
You can also order any quantity above 20 at 60p a badge. Please click here to order. All badges will be brought to the event ready for participants. We will also bring a small amount of stock with us for purchase on site.
We believe that badge swapping will be a highlight of the Essex International Jamboree, providing an enriching and enjoyable experience for all participating Scouts.